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Abstract
This study investigated associations between relational uncertainty, jealousy about romantic partners' friendships, and jealousy expression. Using a survey, 201 participants responded to hypothetical scenarios detailing a partner's extradyadic friendship involvement. Self, partner, and relationship uncertainty predicted sexual, power, and companionship jealousy. However, relationship uncertainty completely mediated the influences of self and partner uncertainty on jealousy. Self and partner uncertainty were directly associated with communicative responses to jealousy. Influences of relationship uncertainty on jealousy expression were mediated by sexual, power, and companionship jealousy. These results highlight the role of different forms of friendship jealousy in shaping jealousy expression.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on this article.
Notes
*p < .05, **p < .01.
SU = self uncertainty; PU = partner uncertainty; RU = relationship uncertainty; SJ = sexual jealousy; IJ = intimacy jealousy; PJ = power jealousy; CJ = companionship jealousy; NAE = negative affect expression; ACD = active distancing; DC = distributive communication; AVD = avoidance/denial; IC = integrative communication; VC = violent communication/threats.
While we recognize the potential for bidirectional associations between cognitions and jealousy (White & Mullen, Citation1989), our specification of relationship uncertainty as the predictor of jealousy, rather than vice versa, is rooted in the perspective that cognition precedes affect (Lazarus, Citation1991; Leventhal & Scherer, Citation1987). Further, the current approach is consistent with White and Mullen's (Citation1989) argument that investigations of jealousy-related phenomena should focus primarily on proximal, rather than distal, causes of such phenomena. We considered jealousy experience to be a proximal cause of jealousy expression with relational uncertainty a distal influence. Nevertheless, such a view does not in any way rule out the potential for jealousy experience or expression to be associated with later relational uncertainty (e.g., Bevan, Citation2011).
The scenario presented below reflects a newly developed same-sex friendship. Information in brackets represents variations in the basic scenario based on history of the friendship (i.e., newly developed versus long-standing) and sex of the friend (i.e., same-sex versus cross-sex friend):
You and your romantic partner have been dating for a while. Recently [Before you began dating your romantic partner], your partner has developed a close friendship with a person of the same [opposite] sex. Your partner and his or her [cross-sex] friend often spend time together. In fact, your romantic partner has been roller-blading every Saturday for the past month with their [cross-sex] friend. This Saturday you decide to meet your romantic partner for coffee, at which time you discover your partner's [cross-sex] friend is a very nice person. They seem to have a closer relationship than you previously thought. In fact, your partner's friend seems to know things about him or her that your partner has never shared with you, and the two share some inside jokes. All in all, their closeness makes you feel a little left out when you are with them. | |||||
The data reported were collected as part of the first author's master's thesis under the direction of the second author. A version of this article was presented at the 2012 meeting of the Southern States Communication Association, San Antonio.